Eureka in the UK has announced the release of the Yuen Biao film The Champions onto Blu-ray.
The Champions is the precursor to Shaolin Soccer from the first family of Hong Kong martial arts cinema: the inimitable Yuen Clan!
Lee Tong (Yuen Biao) is a young farmer who has grown up in an isolated rural community. When an indiscretion lands him in hot water, he leaves his home in the countryside and heads for the big city – where he meets Suen (Cheung Kwok-keung), a street footballer who recognises Tong’s talent for the beautiful game and encourages him to try out for a pro team.
But Tong’s first chance at footballing glory is scuppered by a rivalry with the narcissistic King (Dick Wei), who relegates the newcomer to cleaning up after his teammates. Having discovered a love for football, Tong soon accepts an offer to join a rival team – and the stage is set for a final confrontation with King on the pitch.
This release is from a brand new 2K transfer and will have the following special features –
Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling | 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration | Original Cantonese audio and optional English dub tracks (original mono presentations) | Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release | Brand new audio commentary by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) | Brand new audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema | Brand new featurette by CFK looking at the 1987 Hong Kong celebrity football team that featured several Hong Kong legends including Jackie Chan and Andy Lau | Andrew Heskins on The Champions – brand new interview with film critic Andrew Heskins (easternKicks) | Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork | Trailer | PLUS: A limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic James Oliver
